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The Merry
A knock on the door in the wee hours of Christmas morning brings a terrifying revelation to Madeline Williams. Snowed in during a stay at her mountain home with her family, and with roads closed and a new storm brewing, the man waiting beyond the door is the last person she expected to see.
Not only does Madeline know the man standing in the cold, begging her to let him in, but he alone harbors a scandalous secret that could be the bombshell to disrupt her quiet domestic life-- and her marriage to good-natured Tom.
When the threat turns physical and police get involved, the stakes climb higher and higher. With extended family due to arrive the next morning, a holiday dinner to prepare, and now a motherload of old feelings stirred up by her uninvited guest, Madeline must find a way to protect her precious family and save Christmas.
Will her husband and kids find out Madeline’s secret? Will they stand by the woman they know and love, anyway?
The Merry is a standalone, holiday-themed domestic suspense novel with gripping twists. It will keep you guessing right up until its shocking end.
(Publisher's Note: A shorter version of this story was previously published as Her Holiday Guest in Kelly Utt's Rosemary Run series.)
Not only does Madeline know the man standing in the cold, begging her to let him in, but he alone harbors a scandalous secret that could be the bombshell to disrupt her quiet domestic life-- and her marriage to good-natured Tom.
When the threat turns physical and police get involved, the stakes climb higher and higher. With extended family due to arrive the next morning, a holiday dinner to prepare, and now a motherload of old feelings stirred up by her uninvited guest, Madeline must find a way to protect her precious family and save Christmas.
Will her husband and kids find out Madeline’s secret? Will they stand by the woman they know and love, anyway?
The Merry is a standalone, holiday-themed domestic suspense novel with gripping twists. It will keep you guessing right up until its shocking end.
(Publisher's Note: A shorter version of this story was previously published as Her Holiday Guest in Kelly Utt's Rosemary Run series.)
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2021
342 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Utt
40 books153 followersKelly Utt writes novels about life, love, and the choices that shape our destinies. The stakes are high. The emotions run deep.
Kelly was raised by a dad who would read a book, ask her to read it, too, and then insist they discuss it together, igniting her passion for life's big questions. That passion is often reflected in her novels, giving them a depth which leaves readers wanting more and thinking about her stories long after the last lines are read.
Her earlier works—like the Rosemary Run, Hideaway Isle, and Appleman's Gap series—focus on family secrets, suspense, and psychological twists. Her newest novels, including Sierra Oscar Sierra and What’s Left to Burn, delve into cosmic love stories with high-stakes romance.
In her free time, Kelly enjoys travel, great books, and good food, along with movies, music, and social media. She is a founding author of My Book Friends, a vibrant reader community dedicated to connecting authors and book lovers. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and sons.
For free books, updates, and other bonuses, sign up for her newsletter at kellyutt.com.
Kelly was raised by a dad who would read a book, ask her to read it, too, and then insist they discuss it together, igniting her passion for life's big questions. That passion is often reflected in her novels, giving them a depth which leaves readers wanting more and thinking about her stories long after the last lines are read.
Her earlier works—like the Rosemary Run, Hideaway Isle, and Appleman's Gap series—focus on family secrets, suspense, and psychological twists. Her newest novels, including Sierra Oscar Sierra and What’s Left to Burn, delve into cosmic love stories with high-stakes romance.
In her free time, Kelly enjoys travel, great books, and good food, along with movies, music, and social media. She is a founding author of My Book Friends, a vibrant reader community dedicated to connecting authors and book lovers. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and sons.
For free books, updates, and other bonuses, sign up for her newsletter at kellyutt.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
December 28, 2021
I like to read thematically and Merry seemed like a good fit for a day after Christmas, but…no. Merry isn’t a good fit for any day of the week. Merry isn’t suitable to be a read at all. If it were a proper paper book, it might have found its uses, maybe in the toilet or a fireplace, but in a Kindle form, it’s just a tragic waste of digital ink. And one’s time.
I have a compulsion to finish all the books I start, which is the only reason I read this steaming pile of doodoo start to finish. It’s a terrible compulsion and I really ought to figure it out, because Merry is trash from the first page. It’s obvious from the writing. But just wait until the plot comes in. So, I persevered (sad sigh) and speed-read this merry-less misuse of words to see if the book can possibly be as crappy as the beginning would lead you to believe, and lo and behold…it was worse. So much worse. In fact, Merry was definitely the dumbest excuse for a book I’ve read in ages. I’m not going to say it was the worst of all time - I’ve read some doozies - but it was definitely in the top five. And so, I’m going to review it accordingly and yes, I’m going to give away crucial plot details, so reader beware. OK? Ok.
On, one more thing. This is important. By no means is this a thriller, there isn’t a single thrilling thing about this book, this is a cheap terribly written trashy romance through and through.
You’ve been warned and warned off this book, so let us proceed to details.
Merry is a story of Madeleine (Addy) Williams, a woman with a lovely marriage, kids…and a dreamy ex, as in her ex still haunts her dreams. And soon her reality. On Christmas day she awakes to find he’s come for a visit, her dreamy steamy ex. The two men promptly get in a fight over Addy because that’s what men do, but then she irons it out and lets her ex stay as a guest, and proceeds to melt in his manly arms under his simmering gaze or whatever crap Utt comes up with. Addy’s been hiding some terrible secret from her beloved spouse…wait, is this going to be the thriller element? What’d do you, Addy? No, wait, Utt’s imagination stretches as far as giving Addy a past abortion…which doesn’t qualify for daring, unless you’re in Texas. The ex and Addy got pregnant in college and Addy aborted the baby. Oh my. Let’s build a book around it, thought the author. But will Addy give in to the temptation of her irresistibly sexy ex or stay with the sturdy stud she married?
To crank up Utt’s lamentable interpretation of suspense, she also drags Addy’s ex’s ex (that’s right, people) to the same Christmas. All sorts of excuses for sparks shall…do something, but in the end, none of it is enough so Utt brings in a bear. Yes, seriously. The bear makes Addy’s ex realize he belongs with his ex and Addy can finally shut her lust down and slither back into her marriage. All’s merry that ends merry, right? But wait. Utt has a few pathetic excuses for plot twists for you.
And now, for the oldest trick in the book, for Utt does appear to be an author singularly deprived of imagination…Addy’s going to wake up to realize it was all a dream. Yes, that old nugget. Then, she’s going to proceed to miscarry albeit in a strikingly mild and chatty way while confessing to her dearly beloved about the abortion, though continuing to hide the fact that the baby she is miscarrying is in fact her ex’s. But Addy only got knocked up by him because her man’s sperm count was low, despite having made two babies before.
So, to sum up, a woman deliberately cheats on her man albeit for perversely altruistic reasons. Gets knocked up. Miscarries while having a guilty (yet oh so steamy) dream about her ex compounded by her guilt of a previous abortion and then comes clean to her man but only about some of it. Now, how freaking merry is that?
So, the plotting is trash. But the writing is trashier still. Nothing wrong with a well-done love/sex scene that advances the plot. What passes for love or sex scenes here is just sh*te. Trite, stupid, laughably so. Much like the writing itself and the characters who’d never even heard of dimensionality. Who reads this by choice? And moreover, who enjoys this? Seriously, how does a book like this gets decent reviews? Utt’s got tons of books out and it stands to reason they are all pretty much like this. So, how low must one’s standards be to choose Utt’s books out of all the books out there? That is the real mystery here.
An absolutely tragic waste of time. But the review was fun to do at least. Merry, really.
I have a compulsion to finish all the books I start, which is the only reason I read this steaming pile of doodoo start to finish. It’s a terrible compulsion and I really ought to figure it out, because Merry is trash from the first page. It’s obvious from the writing. But just wait until the plot comes in. So, I persevered (sad sigh) and speed-read this merry-less misuse of words to see if the book can possibly be as crappy as the beginning would lead you to believe, and lo and behold…it was worse. So much worse. In fact, Merry was definitely the dumbest excuse for a book I’ve read in ages. I’m not going to say it was the worst of all time - I’ve read some doozies - but it was definitely in the top five. And so, I’m going to review it accordingly and yes, I’m going to give away crucial plot details, so reader beware. OK? Ok.
On, one more thing. This is important. By no means is this a thriller, there isn’t a single thrilling thing about this book, this is a cheap terribly written trashy romance through and through.
You’ve been warned and warned off this book, so let us proceed to details.
Merry is a story of Madeleine (Addy) Williams, a woman with a lovely marriage, kids…and a dreamy ex, as in her ex still haunts her dreams. And soon her reality. On Christmas day she awakes to find he’s come for a visit, her dreamy steamy ex. The two men promptly get in a fight over Addy because that’s what men do, but then she irons it out and lets her ex stay as a guest, and proceeds to melt in his manly arms under his simmering gaze or whatever crap Utt comes up with. Addy’s been hiding some terrible secret from her beloved spouse…wait, is this going to be the thriller element? What’d do you, Addy? No, wait, Utt’s imagination stretches as far as giving Addy a past abortion…which doesn’t qualify for daring, unless you’re in Texas. The ex and Addy got pregnant in college and Addy aborted the baby. Oh my. Let’s build a book around it, thought the author. But will Addy give in to the temptation of her irresistibly sexy ex or stay with the sturdy stud she married?
To crank up Utt’s lamentable interpretation of suspense, she also drags Addy’s ex’s ex (that’s right, people) to the same Christmas. All sorts of excuses for sparks shall…do something, but in the end, none of it is enough so Utt brings in a bear. Yes, seriously. The bear makes Addy’s ex realize he belongs with his ex and Addy can finally shut her lust down and slither back into her marriage. All’s merry that ends merry, right? But wait. Utt has a few pathetic excuses for plot twists for you.
And now, for the oldest trick in the book, for Utt does appear to be an author singularly deprived of imagination…Addy’s going to wake up to realize it was all a dream. Yes, that old nugget. Then, she’s going to proceed to miscarry albeit in a strikingly mild and chatty way while confessing to her dearly beloved about the abortion, though continuing to hide the fact that the baby she is miscarrying is in fact her ex’s. But Addy only got knocked up by him because her man’s sperm count was low, despite having made two babies before.
So, to sum up, a woman deliberately cheats on her man albeit for perversely altruistic reasons. Gets knocked up. Miscarries while having a guilty (yet oh so steamy) dream about her ex compounded by her guilt of a previous abortion and then comes clean to her man but only about some of it. Now, how freaking merry is that?
So, the plotting is trash. But the writing is trashier still. Nothing wrong with a well-done love/sex scene that advances the plot. What passes for love or sex scenes here is just sh*te. Trite, stupid, laughably so. Much like the writing itself and the characters who’d never even heard of dimensionality. Who reads this by choice? And moreover, who enjoys this? Seriously, how does a book like this gets decent reviews? Utt’s got tons of books out and it stands to reason they are all pretty much like this. So, how low must one’s standards be to choose Utt’s books out of all the books out there? That is the real mystery here.
An absolutely tragic waste of time. But the review was fun to do at least. Merry, really.
December 21, 2021
Possibly the worst book I’ve ever read
I can’t believe I read the whole thing. I think I was determined to find SOMETHING redeeming. It clearly was not to be. Madeline is by far the most ridiculous character ever. No, I’m just sorry I wasted a few hours of my previous time.
I can’t believe I read the whole thing. I think I was determined to find SOMETHING redeeming. It clearly was not to be. Madeline is by far the most ridiculous character ever. No, I’m just sorry I wasted a few hours of my previous time.
January 1, 2022
I’m sorry but the premise of this whole book was ridiculous. And the twist didn’t make it any less so.
Read
August 2, 2022Please note I am giving this book zero stars. If I could give it negative stars, I would. The writing itself was laughably bad. High school creative writing teachers would give it a C at best. And only then it would be because they felt too sorry for the kid who thought she could be a novelist to be more honest.
Character development? Who needs that?! Scene-setting? That’s so last century!
Truly, the most god awful train wreck of a book I have ever read. I couldn’t put it down in the way you can’t look away from the wreck. I kept mindlessly flipping pages, finding it hard to believe anyone could fill 200 pages this badly. I don’t think I could write a book this bad if I tried.
And then there’s the crappy anti-abortion agenda. Just to add insult to injury.
I feel dirty for even knowing this pile of crap exists.
Character development? Who needs that?! Scene-setting? That’s so last century!
Truly, the most god awful train wreck of a book I have ever read. I couldn’t put it down in the way you can’t look away from the wreck. I kept mindlessly flipping pages, finding it hard to believe anyone could fill 200 pages this badly. I don’t think I could write a book this bad if I tried.
And then there’s the crappy anti-abortion agenda. Just to add insult to injury.
I feel dirty for even knowing this pile of crap exists.
December 25, 2021
Worst book I have ever read
March 8, 2023
Zero stars. This book deserves zero stars. 100% zero stars. I don't even know how to describe how awful it is. I've never hate-read a book before but this was a hate read after only a few chapters in.
The writing was mostly fine. There were a few errors here or there. What really sucked was the abundance of exposition and the redundancy therein.
None of the characters were likeable, with maybe the exception of Tom, the main character's husband, and their kids. The main character, Madeline, is ridiculously immature, selfish, and exceptionally good at making stupid decisions.
The whole book is ridiculous. The whole thing. All of it. I cannot stress how much you just need to stay away.
If you're looking for the answers to the questions the book poses, keep reading.
Yes, the big secret is an abortion she had when she was pregnant by Nick in college. Why this should be a big secret is beyond me. My husband and I know each other's lives inside and out. This is the only way I can imagine a marriage working.
No, Madeline doesn't end up with Nick. She almost goes away with him to get to know him again, but a wrench is thrown in those plans and she stays home.
In what I can only explain as a work of magic, Tom takes her back whole heartedly and Nick finds himself enamored with Amber again.
Then Madeline wakes up from a dream, the whole book has been a dream. But that doesn't mean she's innocent. The baby she just lost wasn't actually Tom's. It was Nick's, from when she attended a conference and seduced him so she could get pregnant. She didn't want her husband to be emasculated by the fact that his sperm count was too low to get pregnant again.
Not to mention that she should be in the ER making sure there's not another health issue causing the loss of the baby - or causing the bleeding itself. Miscarriages are more than lots of blood. There's pain. And fetal tissue that needs to be removed. And, depending on what's going on, it can be life-threatening. But no, she takes a bath (!!!) and sits in front of the fire with her husband, drinking hot cocoa. Because she's not going through a major medical emergency or anything... /s
*Edited for spelling
The writing was mostly fine. There were a few errors here or there. What really sucked was the abundance of exposition and the redundancy therein.
None of the characters were likeable, with maybe the exception of Tom, the main character's husband, and their kids. The main character, Madeline, is ridiculously immature, selfish, and exceptionally good at making stupid decisions.
The whole book is ridiculous. The whole thing. All of it. I cannot stress how much you just need to stay away.
If you're looking for the answers to the questions the book poses, keep reading.
Yes, the big secret is an abortion she had when she was pregnant by Nick in college. Why this should be a big secret is beyond me. My husband and I know each other's lives inside and out. This is the only way I can imagine a marriage working.
No, Madeline doesn't end up with Nick. She almost goes away with him to get to know him again, but a wrench is thrown in those plans and she stays home.
In what I can only explain as a work of magic, Tom takes her back whole heartedly and Nick finds himself enamored with Amber again.
Then Madeline wakes up from a dream, the whole book has been a dream. But that doesn't mean she's innocent. The baby she just lost wasn't actually Tom's. It was Nick's, from when she attended a conference and seduced him so she could get pregnant. She didn't want her husband to be emasculated by the fact that his sperm count was too low to get pregnant again.
Not to mention that she should be in the ER making sure there's not another health issue causing the loss of the baby - or causing the bleeding itself. Miscarriages are more than lots of blood. There's pain. And fetal tissue that needs to be removed. And, depending on what's going on, it can be life-threatening. But no, she takes a bath (!!!) and sits in front of the fire with her husband, drinking hot cocoa. Because she's not going through a major medical emergency or anything... /s
*Edited for spelling
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2021
The main female character is a liar, a cheater, a nasty piece of work.
She never deserved her husband.
I hope her nightmare actually comes true. She has it coming.
She never deserved her husband.
I hope her nightmare actually comes true. She has it coming.
December 17, 2022
If you suspend your disbelief and accept The Merry as fiction at its most fictitious — and up to a point I did — then you may enjoy this utterly implausible Christmas tale of domestic strife. And up to a point, I did.
Like her main character Madeline, author Kelly Utt studied psychology in college and writes novels for a living. Madeline is in her thirties, has been happily married to her muscle-bound architect husband Tom for almost ten years, and they have two adorable children, a girl and a boy ages nine and six, and of course a cat and a dog. They celebrate their family Christmas each December in a mountain cabin they own a few hours from their Salinas, California home.
This Christmas Eve at around midnight, Madeline is alarmed by a knock at the door. Standing outside alone in the snow is Nick, her former flame from college, who is now a successful heart surgeon in New Orleans. He has appeared, uninvited and unannounced, at her home on Christmas for the sole purpose of wooing Madeline away from the husband she loves. Madeline has not seen Nick for nearly fifteen years, though they have kept in casual contact on social media.
But this Christmas Eve Nick is no saint.
It seems that Madeline and Nick were more than simple college sweethearts. Together they share a Terrible Secret which Madeline fears if her family knew might destroy them. And yet, despite that risk and against anything resembling maturity and sound judgment, she lets Nick into her home to spend Christmas with her family. She still finds herself irresistibly attracted to him and adores his attention. Even the thrashing her husband Tom gave Nick is not enough to dissuade her.
But wait — there’s more.
Nick is in the middle of divorcing his wife Amber who he tells us is a drug addict. Yet if that’s the case, then what was she mysteriously doing in Madeline’s house on Christmas Day as the date of Madeline’s brother Dante? And now that Madeline’s an adult, even assuming that sex with Nick was superior to Tom, shouldn't her marriage vows to Tom take precedence over what she repeatedly reminds us is the stirring the thought of Nick causes between her legs?
To find out you will need to read the book, which to my amusement played more like a madcap farce than a family tragedy, though The Merry may have the worst ending of any book ever. “Bear” that in mind.
Like her main character Madeline, author Kelly Utt studied psychology in college and writes novels for a living. Madeline is in her thirties, has been happily married to her muscle-bound architect husband Tom for almost ten years, and they have two adorable children, a girl and a boy ages nine and six, and of course a cat and a dog. They celebrate their family Christmas each December in a mountain cabin they own a few hours from their Salinas, California home.
This Christmas Eve at around midnight, Madeline is alarmed by a knock at the door. Standing outside alone in the snow is Nick, her former flame from college, who is now a successful heart surgeon in New Orleans. He has appeared, uninvited and unannounced, at her home on Christmas for the sole purpose of wooing Madeline away from the husband she loves. Madeline has not seen Nick for nearly fifteen years, though they have kept in casual contact on social media.
But this Christmas Eve Nick is no saint.
It seems that Madeline and Nick were more than simple college sweethearts. Together they share a Terrible Secret which Madeline fears if her family knew might destroy them. And yet, despite that risk and against anything resembling maturity and sound judgment, she lets Nick into her home to spend Christmas with her family. She still finds herself irresistibly attracted to him and adores his attention. Even the thrashing her husband Tom gave Nick is not enough to dissuade her.
But wait — there’s more.
Nick is in the middle of divorcing his wife Amber who he tells us is a drug addict. Yet if that’s the case, then what was she mysteriously doing in Madeline’s house on Christmas Day as the date of Madeline’s brother Dante? And now that Madeline’s an adult, even assuming that sex with Nick was superior to Tom, shouldn't her marriage vows to Tom take precedence over what she repeatedly reminds us is the stirring the thought of Nick causes between her legs?
To find out you will need to read the book, which to my amusement played more like a madcap farce than a family tragedy, though The Merry may have the worst ending of any book ever. “Bear” that in mind.
December 25, 2023
This was probably one of the worst Christmas themed books I've ever read. The characters were unlikeable, the story was boring and I hate myself for finishing it.
November 8, 2021
What would you do if your ex-fiancé showed up unannounced on your doorstep on Christmas Eve, proclaiming you were "the one that got away," while your husband and kids were fast asleep upstairs? And what if his sudden reappearance in your life threatened to uncover secrets you buried long ago? That is the situation Madeleine Williams finds herself in when her ex, Nate Parker, appears at her family's vacation house, insisting that he and Madeleine made a mistake when they ended their engagement in college and that they belong together. While Madeleine has built a happy life with her architect husband, Tom, and their two children, she can't deny the attraction she still feels for Nate and she begins to question if she could actually start a whole new life with him. CONS: If I could change one thing, it's that I wish the characters had been a little more fleshed out, especially Madeleine. She often came across as very shallow and some of her actions were totally unrealistic. PROS: this was a fast-paced, entertaining story with a lot of twists and turns, questionable decisions, unbridled tensions, and a lot of "what ifs." If you're looking for a family drama with a holiday setting, that you can really fly through, this is a good one. There were a lot of "oh shit!" moments and I finished it one sitting!
November 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! Great characters, full of drama, exciting twists and turns! At first I was mad about little things but than I understood while those things would surface or why things wouldn't be said. It really brought things together and made realize that I would probably take those actions if I was her. This had great world building and character development! Unexpected turn of events and a surprise ending! I enjoyed reading and had me turning pages!
November 19, 2021
This is a well written book with a cast of strong characters and an intriguing story line. The author does a terrific job pulling you in and kept me glued to the pages from start to finish reading. She brings drama and secrets , throws in twists and delivers a story with a mind blowing ending. Loved and recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
October 26, 2021
Poignant and heart wrenching but at the same time exciting, thrilling edge of your seat unputdownable❣️
You are hooked as soon as you start reading...
Very anxious to read more . . .
Next please - preferably without blasphemy🐿️ More and more difficult to put down . . .
Sadly, loses 1* for abusing the Holy Names of Almighty GOD and HIS word HOLY
You are hooked as soon as you start reading...
Very anxious to read more . . .
Next please - preferably without blasphemy🐿️ More and more difficult to put down . . .
Sadly, loses 1* for abusing the Holy Names of Almighty GOD and HIS word HOLY
November 7, 2021
I was lucky enough to get a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I’ve done this before and believe that being truly honest is important no matter how I came to read it.
Well, it’s so easy to do with this one. It’s a quick read, you’ll love and despise some of the characters at the same time. Your allegiances will change with each page. There are so many twists, keeping you guessing and making it impossible to put it down. It’s definitely not your typical perfect Christmas story, but that’s what makes it so good. You’ll be guessing until the very last page. Thank goodness it’s a quick read or I may have needed to take off of work.
Well, it’s so easy to do with this one. It’s a quick read, you’ll love and despise some of the characters at the same time. Your allegiances will change with each page. There are so many twists, keeping you guessing and making it impossible to put it down. It’s definitely not your typical perfect Christmas story, but that’s what makes it so good. You’ll be guessing until the very last page. Thank goodness it’s a quick read or I may have needed to take off of work.
January 3, 2022
Lots of twists and turns
This book kept me guessing what was gonna happen next. My emotions went on a roller coaster ride, one minute I felt sorry for the main character, then I hated her, then I felt sorry for her again, then I was like WTH! Good quick read.
This book kept me guessing what was gonna happen next. My emotions went on a roller coaster ride, one minute I felt sorry for the main character, then I hated her, then I felt sorry for her again, then I was like WTH! Good quick read.
December 31, 2021
Easily the worst plot and worst main character. It felt like an insane stream of consciousness of an extremely disturbed woman with a side of pro-life propaganda thrown in. I can’t believe I wasted time actually reading this, but I kept hoping for a redeeming turn of events. It didn’t happen. Also - figure out how to spell the brother’s name. Is it Dante or Donte? It’s hard to tell since it’s spelled both ways in multiple spots throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2021
Wow! A book that has is a page turner, with romance, and keeps you reading because you HAVE to see what happens next. This was a great book. Definitely not what I was expecting, but so much better!
November 2, 2021
Brilliant
Wow. Author Kelly Utt has penned another masterpiece. Her book 'The Merry' kept me glued to my seat until the end. I was unable to get my eyes off this book even for a moment. I loved it. It's an amazing romantic thriller.
Madeline Williams is about to retire for the day after making preparations for Christmas. Her pet dog, Budro, barks furiously, warning her about the arrival of an untimely visitor. She thinks that it might be her brother, Dante, but it is someone whom she wants to forget. She lets him inside against her better judgement. Her husband, Tom, is annoyed to find the visitor. Later, he attacks him for scaring his daughter, Keira. The police intervenes but the injured visitor doesn't want to press charges.
Who is this mysterious man? What does he want from her?
Her emotions are in complete disarray. She has a dark secret that may ruin her married life. Will she be able to overcome her emotional turmoil? Her past has come to haunt her yet again. How would she tackle him? I highly recommend it for reading and this book deserves more than five-stars. Well done, Kelly! I am very impressed with this book.
Wow. Author Kelly Utt has penned another masterpiece. Her book 'The Merry' kept me glued to my seat until the end. I was unable to get my eyes off this book even for a moment. I loved it. It's an amazing romantic thriller.
Madeline Williams is about to retire for the day after making preparations for Christmas. Her pet dog, Budro, barks furiously, warning her about the arrival of an untimely visitor. She thinks that it might be her brother, Dante, but it is someone whom she wants to forget. She lets him inside against her better judgement. Her husband, Tom, is annoyed to find the visitor. Later, he attacks him for scaring his daughter, Keira. The police intervenes but the injured visitor doesn't want to press charges.
Who is this mysterious man? What does he want from her?
Her emotions are in complete disarray. She has a dark secret that may ruin her married life. Will she be able to overcome her emotional turmoil? Her past has come to haunt her yet again. How would she tackle him? I highly recommend it for reading and this book deserves more than five-stars. Well done, Kelly! I am very impressed with this book.
November 16, 2021
THE MERRY by Kelly Utt is a Gripping Domestic Suspense of questioning life choices. There is a well written and storyline and well developed characters in this non-stop suspense, mystery and romance story.
Madeline and her family are planning to celebrate Christmas with their extended family in a mountain cabin.
At midnight on Christmas Eve a knock at their door wakes Madeline. Standing there is Nick, her college boyfriend. As he declares his love and feelings that they belong together, she feels the old energy spark between them. She ends up inviting him in and he just seems to take over and proceeds to declare his love in front of her husband and children. Fearing that he will reveal her dark secret that she has never told anyone, she invites him to Christmas dinner.
Get ready for twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to the end. Could Nick be an insane stalker willing to kill everyone just to be with her, or is this some mad joke.
Received a copy from the author. The above is my honest and voluntary review.
Madeline and her family are planning to celebrate Christmas with their extended family in a mountain cabin.
At midnight on Christmas Eve a knock at their door wakes Madeline. Standing there is Nick, her college boyfriend. As he declares his love and feelings that they belong together, she feels the old energy spark between them. She ends up inviting him in and he just seems to take over and proceeds to declare his love in front of her husband and children. Fearing that he will reveal her dark secret that she has never told anyone, she invites him to Christmas dinner.
Get ready for twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to the end. Could Nick be an insane stalker willing to kill everyone just to be with her, or is this some mad joke.
Received a copy from the author. The above is my honest and voluntary review.
December 4, 2022
This was a free Nook Book and I still feel like I want money back for my time. It was 165 pages of crappy, what was supposed to be suspense, turned into weird love triangle of intersecting love triangles and weird twists and turns that felt like an old rollercoaster that jerks you around, gives you whiplash and makes you wonder what else you could have done with the time spent on this book. Here are the spoilers. One example of this horrendous story telling is how "minor" character Les shows up as a police officer to investigate a fight and clears that up, next day is asked to deliver doughnuts/pastries, her mother becomes interested, she then gets bad new from him about a crime commited, but she after less than 24 hours sees him as a father figure and a guardian angel. WHAT is that even? This isn't a low budget Hollywood film, you can write in more characters. Still shaking my head. The main character flip flops so many times of thoughts, it is hard to keep up with where she is at on the decision tree of life and staying or going, or being thrown around wherever the wind blew the story. Another major problem was she changed the spelling of her brother's name SOMETIMES IN THE SAME PARAGRAPH! Is it Donte or Dante? So to wrap up this review, I would not recommend this book. Based on the reviews on here, looks like others felt the same- they wish they could get their time back too. Hopefully this will save someone from 165 pages of whatever that was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2021
Madeline and Tom Williams are off to celebrate Christmas with their family at their cabin. They arrive with their two small children on Christmas Eve and settle in to await presents and family the next day. This is a twisty and convoluted story combining Madeline’s past and present. A knock at the door awakens the dog and Madeline goes to answer it. And the events get crazy from there on! The characters are well-developed and will have you disliking some and feeling sorry for others. It’s an emotional ride to the unexpected ending, and sure to keep your interest! I received a free copy of this book from the author and write this review voluntarily.
November 26, 2021
This one started out hot off the finish line. I couldn't stop reading. The plot was near perfection. The characters you hate on one page and like on the next. Who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? What do you believe and what do you see right through? There is a mystery, suspense, romance, and all in a fast-paced read. I fell asleep reading. (Because it was late and past my bedtime!) My Kindle would smack me in the face and I would keep reading. I read until I had it finished and slept in the next day. You might have to call in "sick" if you start it as late as I did. I highly recommend this, EVEN if it isn't the holiday season.
December 8, 2021
Terrific book with a major twist at end. In the beginning, the main character, Madeleine, makes a series of decisions after answering a knock on her an her family's cabin door late at night by her ex-boyfriend, Nick. Unknown to her husband, Toby, Nick and Madeleine share a secret from before she met Toby. Maddy and Toby are celebrating Christmas at the cabin with their family and the in-laws arriving that next day - Christmas. A series of questionable decisions are made but as the novel goes on, you understand some of her reasoning. This was an original and very entertaining story. Great read.
Red Robin
Red Robin
November 2, 2021
I enjoyed this story about a woman who questions her decisions from 15 years ago. Maisy has a secret she is keeping from her family that happened while she was in college. Her ex-boyfriend contacts her and says he wants her back. He shows up at their cabin on Christmas eve trying to convince her to leave with him. I found some of the characters to be wishy-washy and too easy going. I was so mad at Maisy until the surprising end. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
November 14, 2021
I was excited for the opportunity to read and review this book; it sounded quite intriguing. Now that I'm finished, I'm not quite sure how to feel. Except for the frequent eroticism, it was an easy read, but the ending? Some may think it's very clever, and it is unexpected, alright, but I'm still a little confused about it. It erases everything we've believed as we read the book.
I did love the part about her ex-lover and his estranged wife both showing up unexpectedly (and not together) at Madeline's family cabin for Christmas. That's something that could only happen to me. 😆
I did love the part about her ex-lover and his estranged wife both showing up unexpectedly (and not together) at Madeline's family cabin for Christmas. That's something that could only happen to me. 😆
November 22, 2021
My Christmas holidays are not complete without a special story about growth, love and forgiveness, and The Merry met this desire. The protagonist has kept a big secret from her husband and it has eaten at her through the years. Finally - with an old boyfriend as a catalyst - the past must be confronted. The characters personalities drew me in - including the family dog and cat!! There are many twists and turns - I’d think I had the storyline all figured out and a new twist would occur! I was so captivated that I read through the night! Be prepared to settle in for a great read!
December 25, 2021
Surprising !
I'm really unsure about how I feel about this book. I gave it a 4 because I loved the epilogue ! It shocked me, made me happy and sad, made me laugh and made me understand a lot of things I'd read. Kind of hard to explain what it's about but it's very interesting and I would recommend it to everyone. I'm glad that I read it and would have given it 5 stars but in the middle I felt like there we're pages I didn't need that explained some situations in a very lengthy way. I know this doesn't tell you much about the story, but read it. I think everybody will have to figure it out on there own, and again, I recommend you try it .
I'm really unsure about how I feel about this book. I gave it a 4 because I loved the epilogue ! It shocked me, made me happy and sad, made me laugh and made me understand a lot of things I'd read. Kind of hard to explain what it's about but it's very interesting and I would recommend it to everyone. I'm glad that I read it and would have given it 5 stars but in the middle I felt like there we're pages I didn't need that explained some situations in a very lengthy way. I know this doesn't tell you much about the story, but read it. I think everybody will have to figure it out on there own, and again, I recommend you try it .
December 25, 2021
This book certainly wasn’t what I expected. This is a story about a woman who should be celebrating Christmas with her family, but she is caught up in her romantic past. It’s hard to say my feelings about the characters and plot because the twist ending almost invalidates it all, but I’ll say that this was a pretty gripping story. You know there’s a secret that needs to be told and you have to see it all play out. Plus, at 200 pages, why not throw this on the TBR as a quick Christmas thriller? 3.5 stars for an entertaining, but a tad annoying plot.
October 26, 2021
Madeline and husband a quiet holiday time together at the the cabin.
An old lover of her’s is not welcome, no matter what sob story he tells
Family gathering turns into a nightmare.
Choices made when young now reflecting on choices she makes now
Delightful story of secrets and choices, how they reflect on others
Great story, good plot, and you are drawn into this drama
Given ARC for my voluntary review
An old lover of her’s is not welcome, no matter what sob story he tells
Family gathering turns into a nightmare.
Choices made when young now reflecting on choices she makes now
Delightful story of secrets and choices, how they reflect on others
Great story, good plot, and you are drawn into this drama
Given ARC for my voluntary review
October 30, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
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